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Paes-Bhupathy win Dubai Open doubles, Corretja is singles champ

Fourth seed Alex Corretja claimed his first career hardcourt title by defeating fellow Spaniard Felix Mantilla 7-6, 6-1 in the final of the $ 1 million Dubai Open, while Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathy won the doubles title.

Defeating American pair Don Johnson and Francisco Montana in straight sets 6-2, 7-5, the Indian Davis Cup duo, top seeded in Dubai, won their eighth title in nine finals.

Corretja received a cheque for $ 142,000 for his singles title and 220 ATP points while Paes and Bhupathy were richer by $ 78,000 and 220 ATP points for their effort. Mantilla got $ 84,000.

For the Indians, it was the year's first title and the seventh of their career. They had won the Doha Open late last year and then reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, shaking off a late, second set comeback bid by their rivals.

The Americans did try to make a match of it in the second set, making good use of Montana's nervous energy.

The bespectacled Montana, always moving on the court with wiggles and jumps, was outstanding midway through the second set when he broke Paes in the eighth after Johnson lost serve in the first game.

Paes excelled at the net and came up with some brilliant volleys and passing shots, but his serves had their limitations. Bhupathy was the steadier of the two last night, as he served and returned well and hit some superb backhand shots.

Johnson and Montana failed to combine well and left huge gaps on either flank, which the Indians continuously exploited. Montana managed some good interceptions at the net once in a while.

Paes and Bhupathy got two early breaks in the first set to go up 5-1.

In the eighth game, the Americans had a chance to break the Indians and did save two set points but Paes and Bhupathy finally took the set at 6-2.

The Indians broke Johnson in the very first game of the second set and were leading 3-1 at one stage. The Americans broke Paes to make it 4-4 and then went ahead to 5-4. Montana was a delight to watch at that stage, with fantastic returns and superb anticipation at the net.

The Indians levelled at 5-5 and then got a crucial break off Montana's serve in the next game to go up 6-5. Bhupathy held up one end for the side with his fine double fisted backhands and booming serves while Paes made some unforced errors on the forehand.

With Paes serving for the match, the Indians found themselves trailing at 0-40 but then he and Bhupathy clinched the issue.

"What gives us confidence is that we are prepared to do anything on the court for each other, and that is what sees us through," Paes said after the match.

Corretja and Mantilla, best friends and practice partners, were closely matched in the first set, with several of the baseline rallies extending to 20 strokes or more.

UNI